On the morning of October 21st, the X385 train, loaded with 35 carriages of food, daily necessities, construction materials, and packaging supplies, departed from the Xi’an International Port Station. This marked the first successful launch of a fast intercity freight service from Shaanxi to Tibet, linking Xi’an with Lhasa and Shigatse. This initiative is designed to strengthen the “road-to-rail” transport model, effectively reducing logistics costs across the board and opening new pathways for goods transportation into Tibet.
Earlier in October, a new freight train schedule was introduced nationwide. The Xi’an Railway Bureau was pleased to announce the inaugural route of the X385 fast intercity train, connecting Xi’an International Port to Lhasa West and Shigatse West. This is the second fast intercity service launched from Shaanxi since the X387 line to Urumqi commenced on March 26 this year, achieving comprehensive coverage for goods transported from Shaanxi to Tibet and Xinjiang. Following this launch, the number of fast intercity train routes managed by the Xi’an Railway Bureau will increase to 13, further establishing Xi’an as a pivotal railway cargo distribution hub in China’s inland region.
To ensure the smooth operation of the new service, the Xi’an Railway Bureau leveraged its role as a logistics center, collaborating with over 30 local customers. They formed teams to gather intelligence on key manufacturing companies in neighboring provinces such as Henan, Hebei, Hunan, Hubei, and Shandong. The bureau has been actively promoting comprehensive logistics services, providing optimized logistics solutions to businesses, and reducing intermediary logistics costs to expedite the upgrade of mixed cargo transport to intercity train services heading to Tibet.
“We focus on meeting the demand for transporting goods to Tibet by leveraging the advantages of our rail transport capacity and reliability,” said Ruan Xiaona, deputy manager of the marketing department at the Xi’an Railway Logistics Center. “Our freight service offers lower prices and superior service characteristics compared to road transport, achieving a cost reduction of 60 yuan per ton, which amounts to a 14% decrease.”
The X385 fast intercity service operates on a schedule akin to regular passenger trains, running twice a week on Mondays and Tuesdays, with fixed departures at 9:44 AM from Xi’an International Port Station. The train can reach speeds of up to 120 km/h. “With the consistent operation of these trains, the transportation time from Xi’an to Lhasa will be reduced to under three days, providing significant logistical support for businesses,” shared Liu Shunli, on-duty supervisor at the Xi’an International Port Operations Department of the China National Railway.
Looking ahead, the Xi’an Railway Bureau plans to deepen cooperation with China Railway Express and various enterprises, exploring the railway logistics market more extensively. They aim to streamline supply chain demands and develop more convenient and timely freight products. The bureau is committed to expanding the “road-to-rail” transport options, researching additional point-to-point express train routes between cities, and enhancing the modern railway logistics system to lower national logistics costs and boost economic efficiency.
